Please be aware that US Hwy 6 will be closed between Junctions 58–119 on May 3, 8 p.m. – May 4, 6 p.m.

Crews will be re-aligning and paving a section of US Hwy 6 near mile marker 262.5 to accommodate a new 50 car parking lot for The Big Easy trailhead access. In addition, the delivery and installation of the fourth Peaks to Plains bridge will be happening simultaneously in the same area. Revisit the first bridge installation.

The development of the Big Easy Recreation Area will include a permanent restroom, among other new amenities like picnic areas and a creek-side boardwalk.

You might have noticed the recent warm weather has brought about a flurry of construction activity along US Hwy 6 in Clear Creek Canyon. This is all part of another 3/4 mile stretch of the Peaks to Plains Trail and the development of the Big Easy Recreation Area which will include parking for over 50 cars, a permanent restroom, multiple river access points, picnic areas and a new bridge across the creek. To accommodate the new parking lot, and allow for safer creek-side access, US Hwy 6 needs to be moved to the north. With a planned opening date of early September, the crews are working diligently to physically move the highway to the north of its current location near mile marker 262.5.

Please be patient with on-going lane closures and delays as a result of this work (they will continue off an on for the next month or so). Rest assured the new amenities and recreation area will be worth the wait and loved by visitors for years to come.

A large rock face needs to be removed to make room for the new highway alignment.

The removed rock will be crushed and re-purposed as the road base for new pavement.

The steep slopes above the future highway need to be stabilized using long soil nails, steel mesh, shotcrete, and stone veneer. Here you can see the drilling equipment installing soil nails.

With the wire mesh and shotcrete in place, the future stone veneer allows the wall to blend in with the surrounding area.

The future highway alignment is beginning to take shape.

The existing cell tower, fiber optic lines and electrical line all need to be moved as well.

The new lines are encased in concrete for protection.

Before being completely buried, red caution tape is added as a final layer of safety.

The second bridge at Cannonball East was installed overnight on March 15, and the third bridge at Cannonball West went in overnight on March 16. The construction equipment was staged on US 6 and required the overnight highway closure. Here’s to the successful bridge installations! Thank you to everyone involved.

The bridge installation at Mayhem Gulch in Clear Creek Canyon yesterday was successful. The two halves of the bridge were first bolted together, then the two overlook platforms were bolted on, and finally the entire structure was lifted over Clear Creek and into place.

The bridge is not complete and does not have concrete decking. It cannot be walked upon and the Peaks to Plains Trail remains an active construction site.

The next bridge goes in tonight, and the third on Wednesday night. US 6 will be closed to allow for preparation for these two remaining bridges to be staged on the highway. The closures will occur Tuesday March 15 and Wednesday March 16 from 8 P.M. to 3 A.M. See more details about the closures and recommended detour.

US 6 through Clear Creek Canyon will be closed overnight March 15th & 16th

As part of construction on the Peaks to Plains Trail project, Jefferson County will be closing US 6 overnight through Clear Creek Canyon for the installation of two large, steel bridges over Clear Creek. The closures will occur on Tuesday, March 15 from 8 p.m. until 3 a.m., and again on Wednesday, March 16 from 8 p.m. until 3 a.m.

Recommended DetourThe closure will occur between the intersection of US 6 and SH 119 on the west at Mile Post (MP) 260.12 and at the intersection of US 6, Hwy 58, and Hwy 93 on the east, just outside of Golden at MP 271.6. Please use I-70 as a detour and take SH 119 to exit 244 on I-70 East to US 6. The detour will add 8–10 minutes to your trip.

Bridge InstallationThe bridge installation work will require a full closure of US 6 during night time hours. Crews will be assembling large portions of the 120 to 135 ft. steel bridge structures on the highway before placing them over the creek. These bridges are very heavy. They are made of Cor-Ten, also known as weathering steel, and will weigh up to 85,000 lbs. The weight of one bridge is equal to the weight of 12 limousines.

The full closure is the only safe and efficient way to assemble the bridges, lift them and place them over the creek. Thank you for your patience.

A portion of US Hwy. 6 will be closed starting this Sunday, March 22 through Saturday March 28 to accommodate work on the Peaks to Plains Trail. See the notice below for detailed information and map of the closure.

A portion of US Highway 6, from the intersection of State Highway 119 west to the intersection of US Highway 40, will be closed March 22nd – March 28th. At each highway bridge we will install an underpass as part of the eastern most section of CCC-3. We anticipate no impacts to traffic traveling west through the Canyon to Black Hawk and Central City . We will provide detailed information as the closure date approaches, but please see the map and photo simulation below for more information.